Shoe-filler



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

I-IERBERT ABRAHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE EUBBEROID 00., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SHOE-FILLER.

No Drawing.

To all tolz 0m it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT ABRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Fillers, of which the follow ing is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved shoe filler composed of bituminous material containing a relatively small percentage of nonfelted fibers, the composition being of such a nature as to become plastic under the influence of heat.

A composition made according to my invention has great waterproofing properties and resiliency and will prevent entrance of moisture through the sole of the shoe.

Heretofore shoe fillers composed of a felted fabric saturated and coated with bituminous matter have been used. Such a filler must be stamped out by means of a die in the size required to completely fill the space within the welt of the shoe, and, accordingly, it is necessary to have a die corresponding to each side and shape of shoe manufactured. These dies are very expensive and must be renewed from time to time as the style and shape of the shoes are changed. Furthermore, the felted fabric must be supplied in different thicknesses to conform to the thickness of the insole.

My improved filler, consisting of bitu- ,niinized non-felted fibers is adapted to be applied in a heated plastic condition. This will enable the composition to be spread in place with a heated trowel or other suitable instrument so as to conform to the size and shape of the insole, thus dispensing with the use of dies or other shaping apparatus.

My composition consists broadly of bituminous matter mixed while in a heated state with ten to thirty per cent. by volume, of non-felted fibers. The fibers are preferably of short length and may be of mineral, animal or vegetable origin, as, for example, asbestos fibers, disintegrated wood (known to the trade as wood pulp or wood flour) rag fibers, or animal fibers, such as wool, hair or the like. I have obtained very satisfactory results by using an average of 20% by volume of such fibers. I state the percentages in terms of volume rather than of weight as the specific gravity of the fibers will vary, depending upon the type that is used.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed November 17, 1917.

Patented July 26, 1921.

Serial No. 202,566.

method), 66%- per cent. by weight. Asbestos fibers varying between and inch in length (specific gravity 1.894) 33%,70 by weight, equivalent to 17.6% by volume.

(B) Gilsonite 20% by weight, residual oil 80% by weight. These are melted together, the resulting bituminous mixture having a fusing point of 150 Fahrenheit (ball and ring method). 78% by weight of this bituminous mixture weight of wood flour (specific gravity 0.975) which is equivalent to 22.6% by volume.

(0) Straight run steamed-distilled residual asphalt from Mexican petroleum having a fusing point of 140 Fahrenheit (ball and ring method), 85% by weight of the residuum with 15% by weight of disintegrated rag fibers (animal and vegetable fibers having a specific gravity of 0.852) equivalent to 17.6% by volume.

The finished composition may be either solid or semi-solid and of such a nature that it will be readily amenable to the influence of heat, so that at a temperature range of from two hundred to four hundred degrees Fahrenheit, it will assume a plastic consistency which will enable it to be readily trowled. These characteristics are regulated by the nature of bituminous material used, which should be so selected that when mixed with the fibers, the filler will not yield susceptibly to the pressure of the foot in hot weather and ooze out of place, and on the other hand will be able to withstand low temperatures and the flexure of the sole without cracking or powdering. Instead of using a bituminous matrix, I may use a product consisting of resinous matter brought to the proper consistency by means of fatty or oily substances either of animal is then mixed with 22% by mixed in a proportion of grees Fahrenheit will assume a plastic consistency, enabling it to be readily troweled into the cavity between the sole and insole of a shoe, and which at atmospheric temperatures will regain a tough, resilient and pliable state.

HERBERT ABRAHAM.

[ It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No.

1,385,808, granted July 26, 1921, upon the application of Herbert Abraham, of

a New York N. Y. for an im rovement in Shoe-Fillers was erroneouslv written and printed as The Rubberoid 00., a Corporation of New Jersey, whereas said name should have been written and printed as The Ruberoid 00., a, Corporation of Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

i i i 1 L New J ersey, as shown by the record of assignments in this ofiice; and that the said i i Signed and sealed this 30th day of August, A. D., 1921.

[SEAL] KARL FENNIN Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

